Ribbon-feed mechanism for type-writing machines.



PATENTED APR. 26, 1904.

I E. G. LATTA. RIBBON FEE-D MECHANISM FOR TYPE WRITING MACHINES.

LPPLIOATIOH FILED APR; 2. 1903.

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H0 MODEL.

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fiizio'rneyf No. 758,455. PATENTED APR. 26, 1904.-

E. G. LATTA. RIBBON FEED MECHANISM FOR TYPE WRITING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 2. 1903.

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' No. 758,455. PATENTED APR. 26. 1904.

E. G. LA'ITA. RIBBON FEED MECHANISM FOR-TYPE WRITING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 2, 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEETQ.

K0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented April 26, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

.EMMIT LATTA, or FRIENDSHIP, NEW YORK.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 758,455, dated April 26, 1904. A lication fil d April 2, 1903. Serial No. 150,719? (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EMMIT LATTA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Friendship, in the county of Allegany and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Ribbon-Feed Mechanism for Type -Writing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

, more particularly to the ribbon-feed mechanism for a front-strike or visible-writing typewriter of the character disclosed in my application for United States Letters Patent, Serial No. 150,720, filed of even date herewith.

One object of the invention is to provide a ribbon-feed mechanism in which the ribbonspools are mounted on a frame or carrier which is detachably mounted in the type-writing machine, so that it can be removed with the spools and ribbons intact and replaced by another carrier provided with a ribbon of a different color or character of ink to enable the operator to quickly and easily equip one machine to perform different kinds of work.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the ribbon-carrier that the ribbonspools can be quickly and easily placed therein or removed therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ribbon-feed mechanism of simple, desirable, and inexpensive construction for feeding the ribbon lengthwise and moving the same crosswise in front of the printing-point on the platen, so that the entire surface of the ribbon is effective for making the impressions and is subjected to equal wear throughout.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of three sheets, Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional elevation of a portion of a type- Writing machine and showing in elevation a ribbon feed mechanism embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the spoolcarrier, showing portions of the type-writer frame. Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the type-writer frame, showing the pawl for the front spool and the front spool in elevation. Fig. 4 is a transverse section through the spool-carrier in line 4, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation through the front end of the spool-carrier in line 5 5, Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section through the type-writer frame in line 6 6, Fig. 1, showing the ribbon-feed mechanism in rear elevation and showing the spool-carrier in its central or intermediate position. Fig. 7 is a'rear elevation of the spoolcarrier and rear pawl, showing the carrier in its different side positions by full and dotted lines. Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical section through the front portion of the ribbon-vibrator. Fig. 9 is alongitudinal vertical sectional elevation through a portion of the type-writing machine, showing the pawls set to cause the ribbon to wind on the rear spool. Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section through a spool-carrier and ribbon-vibrator of slightly-different construction.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents the main frame of the machine; B, the platen or cylinder, which, as usual, is journaled above the main frame on the transversely-movable carriage, (not shown;) 0, one of the type-bars which are pivoted on the segment 0, arranged in a substantially vertical plane below the platen and curved concentric with the printing point at the front side of the platen, so that the type-bars swing rearwardly and upwardly to make the impression; D, the keyboard, one of the keys d of which is shown connected by abe'll-crank d and a rod d to the type-bar, and E the universal bar, located in rear of the type-bar segment and actuated by hooks e on the rear ends of the connecting-rods d to operate the carriage-escapement. (Not shown.) These parts are arranged and operate as fully shown and described in my said application and are only shown and referred to herein in a general way to give a clearer understanding of the arrangement and location of "the ribbonfeed mechanism relative thereto.

F represents the ribbon, which, as usual, is wound upon one spool and is reeled or Wound therefrom onto a second spool. G represents one of the spools, which is arranged in front of the platen between the same and the'keyboard, and G represents the other spool, which is arranged in the rear part of the machine between the type-bar segment and the platen in rear of the type-bar segment and the printing-point at the front side of the platen, so that the ribbon passing from one spool to the other is arranged and travels in a longitudinal direction centrally of the machine. The spools G G are journaled, respectively, at the front and rear end of a spool frame or carrier H, which is located between the platen and type-bar segment and extends longitudinally of the machine. The spool-carrier is pivoted to oscillate transversely in any suitable manner. As shown, the spool-carrier is provided at its front end witha projecting stud or pivot 72., which is seated in a bearing-socket at the upper end of a standard or bracket h, rising from the machine-frame in front of the spool-carrier. The rear end of the spool frame or carrier is provided with a projecting stud or pivot which is arranged in axial alinement with the front pivot and is seated in a socket in a bracket 71?, projecting forwardly from the rear wall of the machineframe. The front bearing-bracket for the spool-carrier is preferably somewhat yielding or flexible to enable it to be sprung forwardly for the purpose of disengaging the front pivotstud from or inserting it in its socket when removing the spool-carrier from or placing the same in the type-writing machine. This manner of mounting the spool-carrier permits the same, with the spools and ribbon in place therein, to be quickly and easily placed in and removed from the machine.

The spool-carrier is provided at its front end with a hood or case 71. which incloses the upper portion of the front spool, and at its rear end with a similar hood or case it, which incloses the'upper portion of the rear spool. The central portion of the spool carrier or frame connecting the two hoods rises from the rear hood to a point in front of and somewhat below the printing-point at the front side of the platen and thence extends forwardly to the front hood, the forward part b of the connecting portion of the carrier being curved substantially concentric with the pivots of the type-bars and located just above the path of the free ends of the type-bars. This portion 71.5 of the spool-carrier is of tubular form and constitutes a closed guide or passage through which the ribbon passes and which holds the ribbon up out of the path of the free end of the type-bars. The bottom of this tubular portion of the carrier is formed by a bottom plate It, arranged between the downturned sides of the central portion of the carrier and supported by the inturned lower edges of the sides, as shown in Fig. 4. The central portion of the spool-carrier just in front of the platen is preferably wider than the end portions thereof and is provided with an opening If, through which the" free ends of the typebars move to engage the ribbon and carry the same into contact with the platen to make the impression. The spool-carrier, with the exception of the bottom plate 72., is preferably formed from a single piece of sheet metal stamped or made into the form described. The portions of the blank which are cut out to form the opening 7& in the central part of the carrier are folded back to increase the strength of the portions of the carrier surrounding said opening.

The spools, which may be of any usual or suitable construction, but which are preferably made of sheet metal, are provided at their opposite ends with projecting journals 6, seated in bearing-sockets in the sides of the spoolhoods of the carrier. The sides of the hoods are preferably provided with shallow grooves or guides i leading from their edges to the bearing-sockets for the spool-journals. This manner of mounting the spools in the carrier is simple and enables the spools to be quickly placed in and removed from the carrier. In placing the spool in the carrier the journals are engaged in the guide-grooves and pressed iuwardly,which causes the sides of the carrier to spring outwardly somewhat. When the spool-journals enter their bearing-sockets, the sides of the carrier resume their normal position and hold the spool in place. The spool can be disengaged by simply forcibly pulling it out of its bearing-socket, the sides of the carrier yielding slightly for this purpose.

J represents a ribbon vibrator or device for carrying the ribbon between the type and the printing-point on the platen when a type-bar is swung to make an impression and then again lowering the ribbon'when the type-bar recedes or moves downwardly to carry the ribbon below the printing-point and out of the line of vision of a person using the type-writing ma chine, so that the writing is exposed at all times except at the instant when a type-bar is making an impression. The vibrator consists of a front section and a rear section 1', which 1 bly connected, preferably by makend of the front section tubular and telesflop ing the same over the front end of the reir section, as shown in Fig. 8. The rear section of the vibrator is secured to and supported by the cross-bar of a substantially U-shape bail 1' which swings on pivots j on brackets secured to the side walls of the main frame, as shown in Fig. 6. This bail, in conjunction with a similar bail constitutes the swinging support for the universal bar E, which is connected to the lower ends of the bails by rearwardly-projecting arms j. When a key is depressed and its connecting-rod d is drawn forwardly to throw its type-bar to make an impression, the universal bar is moved forwardly by the hook at the rear end of the connecting-rod, thus swinging the lower end of the bail f forwardly and tilting its cross-bar, so as to raise the front end of the vibrator. The front section of the vibrator is provided at its upper end with forked arms connected by cross-rods j, which are curved substan- ITS 7 tially concentric with the axis of oscillation of the spool-carrier. The ribbon passes below the front cross-rod j and over the rear crossrod, so that when the vibrator is raised and lowered the ribbon is carried therewith. The curved cross-rods of the Vibrator, which do not partake'in the oscillating movement of the spool-carrier, do not interfere with the free crosswise movement of the ribbon in the oscillations of the spool carrier. The front cross-bar j of the vibrator is provided centrally with an index or pointer f, Fig. 2, which indicates the printing point on the platen, When the spool-carrier is removed from the type-writer, the front section of the vibrator is detached from the rear section at the telescoping-point of the two sections.

The spool-carrier is oscillated 'on its pivots to carry the ribbon crosswise past the printing-point at each reciprocation of the typewriter carriage, so as to place diiferent portions of the ribbon in the path of the type. The means shown for this purpose (see Figs. 2, 6, and 7) is constructed as follows: The rear end of the spool carrier or frame is provided with a toothed segment K, which is preferably curved concentric with the axis of 05- I cillation of the spool-carrier and meshes with and is moved by a pinion L. The latter is secured to the shaft Z of the power-operated drum employed to move the carriage trans- .Versely across the machine or is otherwise arranged and geared so as to be driven by said power-operated drum. In the movement of the carriage in one direction the pinion moves the toothed segment to swing the spool-carrier to one side, as indicated by full lines in Fig. 7 and when the carriage is returned the motion of the pinion is reversed and swings thespool-carrier in the opposite direction, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 7 Thus at each reciprocation of the carriage the ribbon is moved crosswise for its full width in front of the printing-point, and all portions of the ribbon are presented to the type. Any other suitable'means for oscillating the spool-carrier may be employed.

The mechanism for rotating the spools to wind the ribbon thereon and feed the same lengthwise, is constructed as follows: M represents a pawl-lever, which is arranged longitudinally of the machine and is pivoted intermediate of its ends at m to any suitable stationary part of the machine. The front arm of the pawl-lever extends upwardly and is provided at its upper end with a spring plate or pawl N, the upper end of which is turned rearwardly and is adapted to engage with ratchet-teeth 12, formed on the end flanges of the front ribbon-spool. The other end of the pawl-lever is provided with a spring plate or spooli The pawls are held stationary, and

when the front pawl is in operative relation to the ratchet-teeth of the-front spool the rear pawl is lowered out'of operative relationto the, ratchet-teeth of the rear ribbon-spool, as shown in Fig. 1. The pawl-lever is held in this position by suitable means, such as a laterally-projecting thumb-piece P, secured to the front pawl and adapted to engage in a notch p in the front bearing-bracket for the spool-carrier. When the pawls are in the position shown in Fig. 1 and the spool-carrier isoscillated in one direction, as before explained, the ratchet-teeth on the end flanges of the front spool move in the opposite direction past the upper end of the front pawl and the pawl engages the ratchet-teeth on thedescending side of the spool and causes the spool to turn forwardly, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1. The ratchet-teeth on the ascending side of the spool pass the pawl. When the spool-carrier is oscillated in the other direction, the other"flange of the spool moves downwardly and the pawl engaging the ratchet-teeth thereon turns the spool farther in the same direction. The amount of rotation of the spool at each movement of the spool-carrier and the consequent lengthwise feed of the ribbon is dependent upon the relative location of the pawl and amount of movement of the spool-carrier and can be changed by changing the relative position of these parts. By thus rotating the pivotspool the ribbon is wound thereon from the rear spool, and when the whole ribbon is wound on the front spool it is necessary to reverse the travel of the ribbon and wind the same on the rear spool. To do this, the thumbpiece P is disengaged from the upper notchp, the front end of the pawl-lever depressed, and the thumb-piece engaged in a lower notch 19 in the front bearing-standard forthe spool-- carrier. The front pawl is thus lowered out of operative relation to the front spool and the rear pawl raised into operative relation to the rear spool, which is turned by the oscillation of the spool-carrier in the same manner as the front spool, whereby the ribbon is fed in the opposite direction.

The spool-carrier and ribbon-vibrator (shown in Fig. 10) are constructed as follows: The vibrator consists of a rear section Q, which is secured to the cross-bar of the U-shaped bail ff, as before explained, and a front section B. The latter isprovided at its upper end with cross-bars between which the ribbon passes, and its rear end is forked or divided and straddles the rear hood of the spool-carrier, being pivoted on a bracket 0, running from the rear end of the spool-carrier. The front section of the vibrator is provided with a rearwardlyprojecting hook or finger 1", which rests loosely upon the rear section Q of the vibrator. r represents a spring connecting the rear end of the vibrator and the pivot-bracket r for the same and which acts to lower the vibrator and hold the finger r thereof on the rear section is used with a wide ribbon with a carriage having a long run for extra-wide paper Without change in the proportions of the operating pinion and segment for oscillating the spool-carrier. This modified carrier and vibrator can be readily mounted in a machine to replace the other carrier.

I claim as my invention 1. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the platen, and type-bars pivoted beneath the platen, of a ribbon-spool arranged below the plane of the platen and in rear of the type-bars, a second ribbon-spool mounted in front of the platen, a ribbon connecting said spools, a guide for holding the ribbon out of the path of the type-bars, and means cooperating with one of said spools for moving the same laterally to feed the ribbon lengthwise, substantially as set forth.

2. In a type-writing machine, the combinanation with the platen, and type-bars pivoted below the platen, of a ribbon-spool arranged below the plane of the platen and in rear of the type-bars, a second ribbon-spool arranged in front of the platen, a ribbon connecting said spools, a guide for holding the ribbon out of the path of the type-bars, and means for rocking said spools to move said ribbon crosswise past the printing-point of the platen, substantially as set forth.

3. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the platen, and type-bars pivoted below the platen and in rear of the type-bars,

a second ribbon-spool arranged in front of the platen, a ribbon connecting said spools, a spool-carrier on which said spools are mounted, and having a guide which connects the spools and holds the ribbon out of the path of the type-bars, substantially as set forth.

5. In a type-writing machine. the combination with the platen, and type-bars pivoted beneath the platen, of a pair of ribbon-spools, a ribbon connecting the spools, and a detachable spool-carrier on which said spools are mounted one in front of and one in rear of the printing-point of the platen, substantially as set forth.

6. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a platen, and type-bars pivoted beneath the platen, of a ribbon-spool arranged below the plane of the platen and in rear of the type-bars, a second ribbon-spool arranged in front of the platen, a ribbon connecting said spools, and mechanism for automatically moving the ribbon crosswise past the printing-point and vibrating it toward and from said printing-point, substantially as set forth.

7. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the platen, and type bars, of a spool-carrier arranged between the platen and typebars, spools mounted on said carrier, one in front of and one in rear of the printingpoint of the platen, a ribbon connecting said spools, said spool-carrier having a covered ribbon-guide for holding the ribbon out of the path of the type-bars, substantially as set forth.

8. In atype-writing machine, the combination with the platen, and typebars, of a spool-carrier arranged between the platen and type-bars, said spool-carrier having yielding sides provided with bearings, spools journaled in said bearings, and a ribbon connecting said spools, substantially as set forth.

9. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the platen, and type-bars, of ribbon-spools mounted one in front and one in rear of the printing-point, and a curved ribbon guide extending rearwardly from the front spool over the typebars and downwardly in front of the platen to the rear spool, substantially as set forth.

10. In atype-writing machine, the combination with the platen, and type-bars, of a spoolcarrier arranged between the platen and typebars and pivotally supported in the machine, ribbon-spools mounted on said carrier, a'ribbon connecting said spools, and means for oscillating said spool-carrier on its pivots, substantially as set forth.

11. In atype-writing machine, the combination with the platen, and type-bars, of a spool- I carrier pivotally mounted between the platen and type-bars, spools mounted on said carrier, a ribbon connecting said spools, means for oscillating said spool-carrier, and means for moving said ribbon lengthwise, substantially as set forth.

12. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the platen, and type-bars, of a ribbon-spool carrier pivotally mounted between the platen and type-bars, spools mounted on said carrier, a ribbon connecting said spools, means for oscillating said spool-carrier, and means cooperating with one of said spools whereby the oscillation of the carrier rotates said spool, substantially as set forth.

13. In atype-writing machine, the combination with the platen, and type-bars, of a spoolcarrier pivotally mounted between the platen and type-bars, spools mounted on said carrier, a ribbon connecting said spools, means for oscillating said carrier, and means adapted to engage one of said spools in the oscillation of the carrier to rotate said spool, substantially as set forth.

14:. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the platen, and type-bars, of a spoolcarrier pivoted between the platen and typebars, spools mounted on said carrier, a ribbon connecting said spools, power-operated means for oscillating said carrier, and a pawl adapted to engage teeth on one of said spools for rotating the latter, substantially as set forth.

, 15. In atype-writing machine, the combination with the platen, and type-bars, of a spoolcarrier pivoted between the platen and typebars, a spool journaled on said carrier, and provided at its opposite ends with ratchetteeth, and a double-acting pawl which engages the ratchet-teeth at opposite ends of the spool alternately, substantially as set forth.

16. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the platen, and type-bars, of a pair of ribbon-spools each provided with ratchetteeth, a carrier on which said spools are mounted to rotate, a stationary pawl for each of said spools, means for moving said spools relative to said pawls to rotate the spools, and a reversing device carrying said pawls and which is movable to place either of said pawls in operative relation with its spool, substantially as set forth.

17. In atype-writing machine, the combination with the platen, and type-bars, of a spoolcarrier pivotally mounted, spools mounted on said carrier and each provided with ratchetteeth, a stationary pawl for each of said spools, a reversing device carrying said pawls and which is movable to place either of said pawls into operative relation with its spool, substantially as set forth.

18. In-a type-writing machine, the combination with the platen, and type-bars pivoted beneath the platen, of a spool-carrier detachably mounted in the machine, spools journaled on said carrier in front and rear of the printingpoint of the platen and each provided with ratchet-teeth, a reversing-lever pivoted beneath said type-bars, pawls connected to the opposite ends of said lever, said lever being adapted to move one of said pawls into operative relation with its spool and the other of said pawls out of operation with its spool, and means for holding said lever in dilferent positions, substantially as set forth.

19. In atype-writing machine, the combination with the platen, and type-bars, of a spoolcarrier pivotally mounted between the platen and type-bars, spools mounted on said carrier, a ribbon connecting said spools, a toothed segment connected to said spool-carrier, a powerdriven shaft geared to said segment to oscillate said carrier, and means for rotating one of said spools, substantially as set forth.

20. In a'type-writing machine, the combination with the platen, and type-bars, of a spoolcarrier pivoted between said platen and typebars, spools mounted onsaid carrier, a ribbon connecting said spools, a vibrator for said ribbon, and means for moving said vibrator to carry the ribbon toward and from the printing-point of the platen, substantially as set forth.

21. In atype-writing machine, the combination with the platen, and type-bars, of a spoolcarrier pivoted between said platen and typebars, spools mounted on said carrier, a ribbon connecting said spools, a vibrator for said ribbon, and means for moving said vibrator to carry the ribbon toward and from the printing-point of the platen, substantially as set forth. v

22. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the platen, and type-bars, of a spoolcarrier pivoted between the platen and typebars, spools mounted on said carrier, a ribbon connecting said spools, a ribbon vibrator mounted independently of said carrier, and

means for operating said vibrator, substan-' tially as set forth.

23. In a type-writing machine, the combinaconnecting said spools, a pivoted vibrator for said ribbon, the vibrator oscillating in a plane substantially at right angles to the plane of movement of the spool-carrier, substantially as set forth. 7

24. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the platen, type-bars and means for actuating the type-bars, of a pivoted spoolcarrier, means actuated by the power-operated device which moves the platen for oscillating said spool-carrier, a universal bar actuated by the operating means for the type-bars, and a ribbon-vibrator actuated by' said universal bar, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 26th day of March,

EMMIT G. LATTA. Witnesses:

CHAS. J. RICE, E. E. HICKOOX. 

